It's very interesting how they grade the flights. For places like SFO where weather delays are common and flights are full of elites, the grades for flights must be high. So who determines which flight gets delayed then?

Since transpacific flights probably have more elites than a narrow-body flight from SoCal, does the transpacific flight not get held during a weather hold?

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These thoughts and opinions are my own, and not that of my employer. I do post frequently in UA forums but I work for a non *A carrier.

Economy Plus was supposed to be euthanized, until … Before the merger between United and Continental, United decided to do away with its premium economy class, which was being given to elite-level customers at no extra charge.

I think this is fascinating. If I'm reading this correctly, then this means that...PMUA was planning on axing E+? Seeing now that DL and AA (and I guess you could say CO as well) are adopting it, I'm surprised.

Also,

Quote:

Speaking of complaints, there’s a sense that the fee madness has ended and that a new era of “re-bundling” has begun. In the future, airlines like United will sell tickets that are packaged with onboard Wi-Fi, lounge access and the ability to pay a reduced change fee, in case your plans change, says Scott O’Leary, the managing director of customer solutions.

This sounds a lot like the 3-tiered fare model that F9 adopted a few years ago. This would be great if for an extra $50, you get E+, free bags, and no change fees— at least for GMs and Silvers.

Assuming that these bundled tickets are in Y, I wonder if they've thought the idea of lounge access through - or will F passengers be offered automatic lounge access, too? And where are they all going to sit?

I think this is fascinating. If I'm reading this correctly, then this means that...PMUA was planning on axing E+? Seeing now that DL and AA (and I guess you could say CO as well) are adopting it, I'm surprised.

Also,

This sounds a lot like the 3-tiered fare model that F9 adopted a few years ago. This would be great if for an extra $50, you get E+, free bags, and no change fees— at least for GMs and Silvers.

It's the "de-kettle" fare. So anybody who didn't manage to get a credit card that gets them free bags and elite security can just buy a ticket that does that.

So the next time your flight is delayed or diverted, and a United employee hands you a hotel voucher and rebooked airline ticket when you arrive instead of making you wait in a long line, you’ll know where to send the flowers.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I want some of whatever Christopher Elliott was smoking when he wrote that one.

I want some of whatever Christopher Elliott was smoking when he wrote that one.

Ohhh, my sides ache.

Actually, I find the article reassuring, even if United isn't delivering on the promises made to Mr. Elliot. It shows that at least some of the management team "get" it, that it matters that a company that provides a service better be attuned to what the customers want and expect.

I think this is fascinating. If I'm reading this correctly, then this means that...PMUA was planning on axing E+? Seeing now that DL and AA (and I guess you could say CO as well) are adopting it, I'm surprised.

UA changed the model of selling E+ (more than once?) over the years. DL and AA are adopting (close to) the method that UA finaly settled on, but it's not the same method that UA started out with. (This oartucykar story is not talking about last year, it's going back in time a bit a few years, I think.)

Is there a summary of the different rules ofr access to E+ over the years somewhere?

Actually, I find the article reassuring, even if United isn't delivering on the promises made to Mr. Elliot. It shows that at least some of the management team "get" it, that it matters that a company that provides a service better be attuned to what the customers want and expect.

Agree with this "take" on the article. Wouldn't it be fascinating to sit in on one of these high level strategy meetings. At the moment, we customers feel invisible without the ability to speak (like a scene from the film Ghost). Glad to hear that there is at least some common sense at UA corporate.

Actually, I find the article reassuring, even if United isn't delivering on the promises made to Mr. Elliot. It shows that at least some of the management team "get" it, that it matters that a company that provides a service better be attuned to what the customers want and expect.

as long as someone in a C-level position thinks some passengers are 'over entitled' what the rest of the organization think is purely academic.

Yup, only that publishing it will it cause it to be abused and stopped completely.

Except it was already widely known long before this article.

Frankly, I find it unfortunate that E+ seating was not eliminated. (Had UA done away with it, the other airlines would not have started to change their seating.) The day UA brought it out, I thought it stupid. Couldn't imagine why anyone would be willing to spend $$ for it and for years E+ seats were empty until they started to get filled by FF elites and systemwide capacity was cut. Unfotunately, I think E+ helps to foster an attitude by FF elites that they are in fact better than those in other seats. Over entitlement!

It's very interesting how they grade the flights. For places like SFO where weather delays are common and flights are full of elites, the grades for flights must be high. So who determines which flight gets delayed then?

Since transpacific flights probably have more elites than a narrow-body flight from SoCal, does the transpacific flight not get held during a weather hold?

This would explain a lot of my recent delays-- all on smaller, regional planes operating on non-elite heavy routes, or just plain off-peak non-elite heavy routes. So the trade-off is upgrade or on-time?